Structural Definition and Mass Estimation of Lunar Surface Habitats for the Lunar Architecture Team Phase 2 (LAT-2) Study

The Lunar Architecture Team Phase 2 study defined and assessed architecture options for a Lunar Outpost at the Moon's South Pole. The Habitation Focus Element Team was responsible for developing concepts for all of the Habitats and pressurized logistics modules particular to each of the architectures, and defined the shapes, volumes and internal layouts considering human factors, surface operations and safety requirements, as well as Lander mass and volume constraints. The Structures Subsystem Team developed structural concepts, sizing estimates and mass estimates for the primary Habitat structure. In these studies, the primary structure was decomposed into a more detailed list of components to be sized to gain greater insight into concept mass contributors. Structural mass estimates were developed that captured the effect of major design parameters such as internal pressure load. Analytical and empirical equations were developed for each structural component identified. Over 20 different hard-shell, hybrid expandable and inflatable soft-shell Habitat and pressurized logistics module concepts were sized and compared to assess structural performance and efficiency during the study. Habitats were developed in three categories; Mini Habs that are removed from the Lander and placed on the Lunar surface, Monolithic habitats that remain on the Lander, and Habitats that are part of the Mobile Lander system. Each category of Habitat resulted in structural concepts with advantages and disadvantages. The same modular shell components could be used for the Mini Hab concept, maximizing commonality and minimizing development costs. Larger Habitats had higher volumetric mass efficiency and floor area than smaller Habitats (whose mass was dominated by fixed items such as domes and frames). Hybrid and pure expandable Habitat structures were very mass-efficient, but the structures technology is less mature, and the ability to efficiently package and deploy internal subsystems remains an open issue

From Porciones to Colonias: Curriculum Development in K-12 Education--Methodology and Program Development

The 2012 National Endowment for the Humanities- sponsored “From Porciones to Colonias: Inserting the “Hispanic” in a Hispanic Serving Institution through Curriculum Innovation” brought together faculty at the largest Hispanic Serving Institution in Texas, the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA), and public school teachers to create place-based curriculum. Using the natural landscape and cultural history of one of the most dynamic borderlands in the world as the main classroom laboratory, faculty housed in the CHAPS program (Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools) challenged elementary, middle, and high school teachers in the sciences, social sciences and humanities to create in their students historically literate citizens who are aware of their local cultural and natural history. The following briefly encapsulates the conducted activities

Regional CNS responses to IFN-γ determine lesion localization patterns during EAE pathogenesis

The localization of inflammatory foci within the cerebellum is correlated to severe clinical outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS). Previous studies of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of MS, revealed distinct clinical outcomes correlated with the capacity of the animal to produce IFN-γ. Outcomes were linked to localization of inflammatory cells in either the spinal cord (wild type [WT]) or the cerebellum and brain stem (IFN-γ deficient). We demonstrate, using an adoptive transfer system, that the ability of the central nervous system (CNS) to sense pathogenic T cell–produced IFN-γ during EAE initiation determines the sites of CNS pathogenesis. Transfer of WT Th1 cells into IFN-γ receptor–deficient mice results in pathogenic invasion of the brain stem and cerebellum with attendant clinical symptoms, which are identical to the disease observed after transfer of IFN-γ–deficient T cells to WT hosts. Inflammation of the spinal cord associated with classical EAE is abrogated in both IFN-γ–deficient systems. Cotransfer of CNS antigen-specific WT Th1 cells with IFN-γ–deficient T cells is sufficient to restore spinal cord invasion and block cerebellar and brain stem invasion. These data demonstrate that interaction between IFN-γ and host CNS cells during the initiation of EAE can selectively promote or suppress neuroinflammation and pathogenesis

From Porciones to Colonias: The Power of Place and Community-Based Learning in K-12 Education - A Case Study From the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas

From Porciones to Colonias: The Power of Place- and Community-Based Learning in K-12 Education redefines culturally relevant learning in today’s diverse classroom. By integrating an interdisciplinary approach including: anthropology, archeology, biology, geology, and history the CHAPS Program presents an effective method in supporting teachers of the Rio Grande Valley in creating culturally relevant curriculum, while meeting the demands of state and federal mandates. Sponsored by The National Endowment for the Humanities.https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/chapspublications/1010/thumbnail.jp

The SPectrometer for Ice Nuclei (SPIN): an instrument to investigate ice nucleation

The SPectrometer for Ice Nuclei (SPIN) is a commercially available ice nucleating particle (INP) counter manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies in Boulder, CO. The SPIN is a continuous flow diffusion chamber with parallel plate geometry based on the Zurich Ice Nucleation Chamber and the Portable Ice Nucleation Chamber. This study presents a standard description for using the SPIN instrument and also highlights methods to analyze measurements in more advanced ways. It characterizes and describes the behavior of the SPIN chamber, reports data from laboratory measurements, and quantifies uncertainties associated with the measurements. Experiments with ammonium sulfate are used to investigate homogeneous freezing of deliquesced haze droplets and droplet breakthrough. Experiments with kaolinite, NX illite, and silver iodide are used to investigate heterogeneous ice nucleation. SPIN nucleation results are compared to those from the literature. A machine learning approach for analyzing depolarization data from the SPIN optical particle counter is also presented (as an advanced use). Overall, we report that the SPIN is able to reproduce previous INP counter measurements

De las porciones a las colonias: La fuerza del aprendizaje con enfoque local y comunitario dentro de la educación desde el preescolar hasta la preparatoria - Un estudio de caso desde El Valle del Río Grande de Texas

El proyecto titulado De las porciones a las colonias: la fuerza del aprendizaje con enfoque local y comunitario dentro de la educación desde el preescolar hasta la preparatoria es una iniciativa que redefine la importancia del aprendizaje con relevancia cultural en las aulas escolares de la actualidad, cada vez más diversas en la composición de su alumnado. Mediante la integración de un enfoque interdisciplinar que incluye la Antropología, la Arqueología, la Biología, la Geología y la Historia, el programa CHAPS presenta un método eficiente para brindar apoyo a los profesores de El Valle del Río Grande a la hora de elaborar currículos escolares con relevancia cultural, a la par que se satisfacen los requisitos educativos establecidos a nivel estatal y federal. Patrocinador: The National Endowment for the Humanitieshttps://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/chapspublications/1011/thumbnail.jp

CXCR7 influences leukocyte entry into the CNS parenchyma by controlling abluminal CXCL12 abundance during autoimmunity

During CNS autoimmunity, brain endothelial cell CXCR7 internalizes CXCL12 from the perivascular space, thereby permitting leukocyte migration into the CNS parenchyma

Post‐translationally‐modified structures in the autophagy machinery: an integrative perspective

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113777/1/febs13356_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113777/2/febs13356.pd

Regional research priorities in brain and nervous system disorders

The characteristics of neurological, psychiatric, developmental and substance-use disorders in low-and middle-income countries are unique and the burden that they have will be different from country to country. Many of the differences are explained by the wide variation in population demographics and size, poverty, conflict, culture, land area and quality, and genetics. Neurological, psychiatric, developmental and substance-use disorders that result from, or are worsened by, a lack of adequate nutrition and infectious disease still afflict much of sub-Saharan Africa, although disorders related to increasing longevity, such as stroke, are on the rise. In the Middle East and North Africa, major depressive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder are a primary concern because of the conflict-ridden environment. Consanguinity is a serious concern that leads to the high prevalence of recessive disorders in the Middle East and North Africa and possibly other regions. The burden of these disorders in Latin American and Asian countries largely surrounds stroke and vascular disease, dementia and lifestyle factors that are influenced by genetics. Although much knowledge has been gained over the past 10 years, the epidemiology of the conditions in low-and middle-income countries still needs more research. Prevention and treatments could be better informed with more longitudinal studies of risk factors. Challenges and opportunities for ameliorating nervous-system disorders can benefit from both local and regional research collaborations. The lack of resources and infrastructure for health-care and related research, both in terms of personnel and equipment, along with the stigma associated with the physical or behavioural manifestations of some disorders have hampered progress in understanding the disease burden and improving brain health. Individual countries, and regions within countries, have specific needs in terms of research priorities.Fil: Ravindranath, Vijayalakshmi. Indian Institute of Science; IndiaFil: Dang, Hoang Minh. Vietnam National University; VietnamFil: Goya, Rodolfo Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata ; ArgentinaFil: Mansour, Hader. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos. Mansoura University; EgiptoFil: Nimgaonkar, Vishwajit L.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Russell, Vivienne Ann. University of Cape Town; SudáfricaFil: Xin, Yu. Peking University; Chin